Stotler represents the truck stop and travel plaza industry on legislative and regulatory issues related to transportation, fuels, labor and the environment. Prior to his advocacy experience at NATSO and in the trucking industry, Stotler worked as a Legislative Aide on Capitol Hill for an Illinois Congressman. Stotler graduated from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana with a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science, and has completed additional course work in a master's program at Johns Hopkins University.

Items contributed by
NATSO

The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee delayed the widely anticipated release of its long-term highway bill and subsequent markup on the legislation last week as lawmakers on both sides of the aisle try to work out several major policy differences.

In a 3-2 decision last week, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) issued a decision in its case against Browning-Ferris Industries (BFI) that redefines and expands "joint employer” liability under the National Labor Relations Act, making it easier for two or more companies to be declared joint employers.

The National Conference on Weights and Measures (NCWM) held its annual meeting last week in Philadelphia, during which it considered two topics of particular interest to NATSO members: a proposal to tighten diesel dispenser filtration requirements for dispensers with a flow rate of less than 15 gallons per minute, and a proposal to create an official diesel gallon equivalent (DGE) method of sale for Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG).

NATSO along with the Alliance for Toll-Free Interstates has learned that the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee (EPW), which has jurisdiction over the Interstate Highway System, is considering expanding tolling on existing Interstates.

As 2013 comes to a close, NATSO reflects on a busy year with many of its top issues in play. The association and the nation’s truckstop and travel plaza operators scored several major victories during 2013, particularly on the issue of tolling of existing interstates. As NATSO moves into 2014, the association will continue to protect the interests of interstate-based businesses.

Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) unveiled the latest package in a series of proposals to overhaul America’s tax code. As part of the proposal, the Senator released a discussion draft on energy tax reform and said he aims to “focus on streamlining energy tax incentives so they are more predictable and technology-neutral."

Democratic Leaders in the Senate are looking to advance legislation in early 2014 that will significantly increase the minimum wage for employees. Legislation titled “The Minimum Wage Fairness Act,” S.1737, sponsored by Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) would increase the federal minimum wage nearly 40 percent from the current $7.25 an hour to $10.10 over two years and automatically index the wage rate to inflation thereafter.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) lowered the ethanol mandate and set reduced levels for other biofuels for 2014 in a proposal released Nov. 15. The reductions were a recognition on the agency's part that fuel consumption has declined over the last several years and that today's fuel infrastructure is not able to handle ethanol blends greater than E-10.